urgent help - cooling system

[stefanedge]

right guys. when i bought the car (mk3 estate 1.9d, had for around 3+ weeks) i believe the thermostat was stuck open as it never gets to temperature, usually sticks around 70 degrees and heaters dont get hot just get warm.

but yesterday the coolant light came on on the way to work and heaters were ice cold. i thought i had just had no coolant. forgot to fill up so drove home the same. (15 miles) about half way it got to 90 degrees but heaters were still cold. when i got home i filled up with water and seems that a solid coolant hose has split, as it was pissing out.

i thought it was just a thermostat. anyone think its anything else aswell as i will be buying the new parts this weekend.

help will be much appreciated, cheers.

[dixie180]

Sounds like knackered thermostat which is why your temp gauge never gets to 90 degrees.Also the loss of coolant from the split hose is why your coolant light came on.

[stefanedge]

Would the lack of coolant explain the no.heaters?

[dixie180]

Could be heater matrix has gone aswell. .I would replace thermostat and new hose,fill with coolant and check that all hoses are getting hot when car is running.If still cold air coming out of the heater then i would say heater matrix is kaput.

[danny_p]

if the heaters quit  thats one of the last warnings an engine will give you.

basicly means teh coolant system ether dosent have enough coolant to circulate , or isn't circulating fo some reason.

when is back together check the hoes for "pumping up" as  potentialy 15 miles with no coolant will f**k the head

[itavaltalainen]

heater matrix is fairly high up in the system, so will run dry before engine block..... but not necessarily cylinder head where it gets the hottest...

so yes, low coolant level can equal no heating..... if that is the case you're missing liters of coolant and should not drive it anymore as head can warp.... 90 degrees on the gauge without coolant don't mean its only 90 degrees as the sensor may just no longer get water fed to it! real temp in head could be far higher.

[stefanedge]

Right for now, I've patched the split with some quick metal and topped up with water. most of yesterday i didn't touch the heaters or fan until night time. and heaters worked as usual (just warm) so matrix seems to be ok. still running at 70° ish. Still need to order a thermostat. read somewhere that you have to undo the power steering pump to get at the thermostat housing on the 1.9d? I've only ever worked on petrols you see, which is piss easy.

[itavaltalainen]

thermostat change is the same on diesels as on the large 4 cylinder petrols.... which means either you take off alternator and water pump or you undo p/s pump (don't disconnect hoses) and then take off thermostat flange with water pump in situ....

if you haven't got a pit would take alternator and water pump off..... just watch it a bit so the coolant doesnt run on the cambelt....